Work begins for Leicester urgent care centre

Work begins at the Loughborough Hospital next month ahead of a new urgent care centre due to open on the site in April 2013.

The plans to create a new urgent care centre at Loughborough Hospital to replace the Walk in Centre at Pinfold Gate were given the go ahead in February 2012 after public consultation.

The move will mean that patients who require urgent care but not acute A&E services can be treated at Loughborough Hospital and will not have to travel to Leicester Royal Infirmary. There will also be increased access to diagnostics such as scans, blood tests and x-rays at weekends, as well as observation bays.

The first stage will see improvements to the car park to accommodate an extra 183 spaces.

Dr Nick Pulman, chair of the West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We will do our best to ensure that when people arrive at the hospital there are clear signs showing which areas of the car park are open, however, we do recommend people coming to the hospital allow extra time for their journeys”.

A number of services in the hospital are relocating within the building to make way for the Urgent Care Centre, which will be situated in the area that is currently the hospital’s Outpatients 3 Department. These are:the Podiatry Clinic; Podiatric Surgery; Orthotics; Dietetics; and Adult Speech and Language. Patients have been informed of the new locations by the clinics directly and work is underway to update the signs in the hospital to ensure people can find their clinic. Reception staff will also be able to help direct patients and visitors.

Dr Pulman adds: “When work is complete we will be able to deliver improved quality care and an increased range of services in a local setting.”

More Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT

West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group has named Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services as preferred provider to run an urgent care centre, scheduled to open at Loughborough Hospital in April 2013.